title: Resident lymphocytes in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal dorsolateral thorax of alpacas.
abstract: A small population of resident T-lymphocytes is present in the normal epidermis of skin from humans, mice, sheep, and cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells (T-lymphocytes) and CD79a+ cells (B-lymphocytes and plasma cells), in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of alpacas. Skin-biopsy specimens from the normal skin of the dorsolateral thorax of 31 alpacas were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of CD3+ cells and CD79a+ cells in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia. CD3+ T-lymphocytes, but not CD79a+ cells, were present in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia. Therefore, in the absence of other signs of inflammation, the presence of lymphocytes in these structures in skin-biopsy specimens should be considered normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mitzi D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters-Kennedy
authors.forename: Danny W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051925:CD79 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002161:Camelids, New World; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D051925:CD79 Antigens